The idea of the article stemmed from me being at a bar and hearing two guys talk about their plans for remodeling this summer. He mentioned how he was thinking about painting his house and I immediately thought about how that was a good idea. As he continued speaking I realized that he was speaking about a brick house. I couldn’t say for certain because at this point he was slurring his words. If I had to guess, I’d say that he should not paint his home. Below I’ve listed some situations where I would consider it.
#1. When It Has Already Been Painted
For the most part, the best maintenance solutions for painted bricks is to repaint the bricks, rather than remove the old paint. That said, it is critical that you find the correct paint that matches your specific project.
What Paint Should I use for exterior bricks? Silicate paint or mineral-based that has been designed for breathability is the right kind of paint to use on bricks. A good example of such paint is KEIM,
Is this a DIY project? Projects like this need a lot of prep work, such as cleaning and or repairing the damage. As such, it is far better to let professionals handle this kind of project. Homewyse states that professional brick painting will cost you between $1.70 and $3.27 per square foot.
#2. When Your Bricks Are Extensively And Severely Damaged
Chris Landis, an owner/partner of an architect business and a board member of separate entity in Washington, D.C says painting could be a good solution when the grout between the brick is old and it has turned dust/sand.
While you could have the bricks repointed, a process involving replacing and adding new mortar, the process could also be very costly. Repointing can be anywhere from $25 per square foot depending on the amount of damage that occurred and your home location.
On the other hand, a DIY repointing job might not cut it as you will most likely mess up the brick by spilling over the cement, resulting in a very messy outcome. As such, the best solution when faced with such case to paint the bricks.
#3. You Can Paint The Bricks If They Were Designed To Do So
There is a chance, albeit a slim one, that your home is constructed using bricks that a coat of paint for protection. To help you identify whether your bricks need painting, consider this:
Was your built before the 1870s?
Were the bricks handmade with no machine used?
Does your home lack decorative ornamental bricks?
Do the bricks have paint traces that appear whitewashed or faded?
If the answers to these questions are yes, you need to paint the bricks. However, the paint applied on such bricks is not your ordinary supply of paint. Make sure that the paints you use is all-natural such (milk paint is a good example of this). Try not to use paints that are seen as modern because they will damage the bricks, which can cause structural damage. For more professional help, check out Houston House Painter Crew’s Site.
Given the fragility of these bricks, homes made using these bricks usually never feature ornamental bricks architectural features, for instance, dog-toothing. As such, if your house has such features, however, know that the brick used, though hand-made, are more durable, and should not be altered.
#4. When The Bricks Are Inside
Indoor bricks are not subjected to harsh treatment by mother nature. As such, you paint them, for instance, around the fireplace surround, Palmer reckons that you will not encounter any humidity and moisture issues.